Attachment for beds



E. 8. DOWN.

ATTACHMENT FOR BEDS. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 11. 1 922.

Patented Jul 18, 1922'.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

EDITH B. Down, or WATERTOWN, NEW YORK.

ATTACHMENT FOR BEDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 18, 1922.

Application filed February 11, 1922. Serial No. 535,910.

To all whom it ma'y concern:

Be it known that I, EDITH B. DOWN, a subject of Great Britain, residingat Watertown, in the county of Jefierson and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Attachments for Beds, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to attachments for beds and more particularly toa patient elevating means.

An important object of this invention is to provide an auxiliarymattress for beds having novel means whereby one or both ends of thesame may be conveniently elevated by an attendant when it is desired, toplace a bed pan in position.

Further, the invention forming the sub I ject matter of this applicationaims to provide an auxiliary mattress for beds having depending sidecurtains which conceal the bed pan and give the patient a feeling ofprivacy when using the same.

Also, the invention aims to provide an auxiliary mattress and operatingmeans therefor which may be conveniently attached to hospital or otherbeds without altering the construction of the bed and without marringthe appearance same.

A further object is to provide an auxiliary mattress for beds which issanitary, of highly simplified construction and cheap to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame,

Figure l is a perspective of the improved auxiliary mattress.

Figure 2 is a detail sectional view through of the the elevating meansfor the auxiliary mattress.

Figure 3 is a detail horizontal sectional view through one of thebrackets embodied in the invention.

Figure 4 is a perspective of one of the brackets.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the improved auxiliary mattress applied.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective of the mattress.

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view through the mattress. v

Figure 8 is a detail sectional view illustrating side curtains which maybe used in connection with the auxiliary mattress.

In the drawingwherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of the invention the numeral 5 generally designatesa bed which consists of a head 6, a foot 7 the usual side rails 8 andthe mattress 9.

The invention forming the subject matter of this application is in thenature of an auxiliary mattress or stretcher which consists of arectangular frame 10 constructed from tubular metal and of approximatelythe same length and width as the mattress. As illustrated in Figure 1, astretcher body or mattress 12 is arranged within the frame and isprovided with a series of gromets 14 which receive a lace 16 wound aboutthe frame of the auxiliary mattress whereby to adjustably connect theauxiliary mattress to the frame. It will be seen that the auxiliarymattress is arranged above the main mattress and is provided with acentrally arranged opening 17 beneath which a bed pan may be arranged,in which case the bed pan rests upon the main mattress of the bed. Ofcourse, the wall of the opening 17 may be reinforced as indicated at 18.In carrying out the invention, the auxiliary mattress may be formed of asuitable flexible and washable material and may be of any desiredthickness. Also a sheet may be extended over the auxiliary mattress andmay be secured to the frame by means of the lace 16.

The auxiliarymattress may be elevated at one or both ends by means ofwinch bars 22 having their end portions rotatably extended throughtransverse apertures in the upper portions of attaching brackets 23, thesaid attaching brackets being provided with look ing pins 25 adapted toextend through transverse openings in the end portions of the winch barswhereby to detachably hold the winch bars in position. When it isdesired to rotate the winch bars for either raising or lowering theauxiliary mattress the pins 25 may be removed and subsequently insertedfor holding the mattress in position.

The auxiliary mattress is connected to the winch bars 22 by means offlexible elements 26 which as illustrated in F igure 1 are conwinch barnected to the frame adjacent the corners of the same and are connectedto the end portions of the winch bars adjacent the brackets 23. It willbe seen that when the winch bars 22 are turned in one direction theflexible elements 26 will be wound thereon t'or raising the auxiliarymattress, while when the s rotated in the other direction the auxiliarymattress will be lowered.

Each end portion of each winch bar is squared as indicated at 30 forengagement with a crank 31 :torming a means whereby the several winchbars may be raised and lowered. The crank 31 will in practice he solocated that the same may be conveniently turned by the attendant.

The brackets 23 are provided withattaching portions 36 havinglongitudinally ex tending if-shaped grooves 37 which partially receivethe posts oi the bed, and the attachmg portions 36 are firmly held 111.engagement with the posts of the bed by means of fastening bolts 39extended through the attaching portions and through plates ll). Bytightening up onthe nuts threaded on the bolts 39 the brackets may besecurely connected to the bed.

In operation, the attendant may raise either one or both ends of themattress when it is desired to place a bed pan beneath the auxiliarymattress, or, when it is desired to elevate the patient for otherreasons. it will be seen that with reference to Figure that the upperportions of the brackets 23 are extended angularlyso as to overhang theends of the auxiliary mattress a direct pull is obtained in operation.By reason of this arrangement longitudinal movement of the auxiliarymattress is prevented.

As illustrated in Figure 8, the improved auxiliary mattress may beprovided with side curtains or drops which protect the patient fromdrafts and which also gives a feeling of privacy.

The improved auxiliary mattress may also l e adjusted for supporting thepatient in an inclined position, and further arrangements may be madefor using the auxiliary mattress by adults or children.

In a bed the combination with brackets having Jeshaped attachingportions adapted to engage the corner posts'oit a bed, of means tosecurely connect said \/shaped attaching portions to the corner oi thebed, the upper portions of said brackets being provided with transverseopenings, winch bars rotatably extended through said openings, pinsdetachably locking said winch bars to said brackets the end portions ofsaid winch bars being squared, a crank adapted for connection with thesquared end portions of said winch bars, an auxiliary mattress connectedto said winclrbars, the upper portions of said brackets being extendedangularly to overhang the ends of said mattress.

Intestimony whereof, I have allixed my signature in the presence oi twowitnesses. EDITH B'. DOXVN. \Vitnesses A I-ion O.-PERSIA, TnoMas J.BEoKnTT.

